Portable derrick



N. c. COATES 2,338,317

PORTABLE DERRICK Filed Jan. 9, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 iNvEN oR, /l e//y/7 C/a/h Caafes.

Jan. 4, 1944. M Q ES 2,333,317

PORTABLE DERRICK Filed Jan. 9, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, Ma /7 C/a/fl Cad/e5.

Jan. 4, 1944. N. c. CQATES PORTABLE DERRICK Filed Jan. 9, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 W 76 7X 1 a l i/ f 4 70 a" 44 44 INVENTOR, fle/g/v 6/4/2 604;65.

'6 BY /g/MZ- ATTORNEY.

we I

Jan. 4, 1944. M Q COM 2,338,317

PORTABLE DERRICK I Filed Jan. 9, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR,

. ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE. DERRICK Neligh Clair Coates, Kansas City, Mo.

ApplicationJanuary 9, 1941, Serial No. 373,745.

This invention relates to improvements in portable derricks and has particular reference to the load handling rotary boom type. derrick.v

In the operation of positioning portable derricks on elevated platforms, to which it is desired to deliver building material, much diflicu'lty is encountered in moving. the derrick to the proper position because of projections on the derrick which must be moved out from the'plat-- form before the derrick can be moved upwardly or downwardly to properly engage the suppo rt ing platform.

The principal objectof'the present invention'is the provision of portable. derrick which-overcomes the above objections and one that is provided with a pair of a spaced apart runners for resting against the supporting platforms as the derrick is moved vertically therealongn.

Another object of the present invention; is the provision of a novel platform clamping means operable by a foot lever as the operator positions the derrick on the supporting platform with his hands.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a derrick having a downwardly and inwardly converging track with a platform clamping means adjacent its upper end whereby the derrick may be supported in a substantially vertical position with the clamping means engaging the supporting platform and the tracks engaging a vertically inclined platform brace member.

Another object is the provision of a portable derrick having resilient means for forcing a pair of board clamping members toward each other whereby the derrick is secured to a platform.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease and convenience of operation, and adaptability for use in handling various kinds of materials.

With these as well as other objects which will appear during the course of the specification, in view, reference will now be had to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of. a portable derrick, shown in operative relation with a platform and embodying this invention.

Fig.2 is an enlarged horizontal, sectional View taken on line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal, sectional view taken on. line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the derrick in operative relation with supporting platform parts.

' ward the mast 20 to form a pair of runners on 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line VV ofv Fig. 1.

Fig.,6-is.a side elevation. of the derrick positionedlwith the. bar runners resting against the supporting platform as it is being positioned.

Fig. '7. is; a fragmentary rear elevational view of. the derrick.

Fig... Bis a side elevational View of, a modified form of the. derrick having a resilient connect-- ing bar for forcing the clamping members, to gethen.

Fig.v 9.-is.an, enlarged sectional view taken line IX-IX of Fig. 8. v

Fig 10..- is. a modified. formv of, the platform structure. wherein the mast adjusting bar is disposed; substantially parallel. with the supporting, floor board. and. with. the adjustable, derrick positionedthereon. p f

Fig. 11. is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 10 with the mast of the derrick shown in atilted position in solid linesandi in thevertical operating position in dotted lines.

Fig. 121 is an, enlarged end elevation of the platform, adjusting barand its connecting means tothe vertical platform member.

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view taken on. line- XII-XII of Fig. 12.

14. is a further modification ofthe platform member wherein the derrick adjusting bar is pivoted atitsone end to one of the vertical platform members and adjustable vertically at its free-end. p

Through the several views of the drawings like reference characters refer to similar parts and the numeral 20' designates a mast shown .as a tubular member with a plurality of flat sides. howeveritj may also: be. made of standard tubular form of: anyof the. various structural shapes, 'etc.v A transversely" disposed frame'22, made of sheet metal is welded to the mast 20, intermediate its ends. This frame is substantially triangular in shape with its opposite sides 24 and 26 diverging outwardly from mast 20, and being provided with reinforcing, depending flanges 28;, The triangular frame is provided with an opening 30 through which certain parts extend as hereinafter set forth. f

Securely attached adjacent each of the outer corners of the frame 20 is arod 32 which converge. downwardly toward each other and towhich the derrick rests for easy adjustment during the positioning, operation. These runners also serve to bear against the diagonally dis:

posed tie member 34 positioned to incline vertically at the front side of the platform 36.

Extending outwardly from opposite corners of frame 22 is an arm 38 provided with a depending tine 40 which is adapted to engage the upper surface of floor board 42 of the platform.

A bell crank lever 44 pivoted to bracket 45 depending from frame 22 is pivoted intermediate its ends in such a manner that the outer end portion 46 can be moved to and from a'position against the underside of the floor board 42. The other end portion of the bell crank lever is pivotally connected to a connecting bar 48, which-- has its other end pivotally joined at 49 toan operating bar 50 which in turn is pivoted at 5| to a stationary bracket 52 carried by the mast 20. A link 53 also pivoted at 49 to the operating bar and at 5| to the bracket 52 serves as a reinforcement to prevent undue distortion of the parts. v

This operating bar is provided at its free end with a transverse bar 54 and is so positioned and connected with connecting bar 48 that it will move the bell crank lever to a position inside the plane determined by the rods 32 so that the rods will rest against the edge of floor board 42 for free movement from arms 38 to their lower extremities as clearly shown in Fig. 6. When the operating bar 50 is moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 the lever portion 46 will be forced upwardly against the underside of floor board 42 so that the foot 56 integral therewith will clampingly engage the board to force the tines 40 downwardly into said floor board. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 1 that the oprating bar 50 and connecting bar 48 are in angled relation to prevent accidental release of the parts, and that the free end of the operating bar resting on the frame 22 to prevent further movement of the parts. j

Reinforcing bars 58 positioned intermediate the frame 22 and the lower end of mast serve to reinforce the runner construction and prevent lateral movement of the mast when in operation.

Due to the fact that it is desirable to vary the distance between arm 38 and the outer end por tion of 46 of the bell crank lever ithas been deemed advisable to make the connecting bar 48 extensible by providing a turn buckl structure wherein the enlon ated nut 60 is in threaded relation with the threaded end 62 of connecting bar 48 and the threaded end 64 of section 66 of the connecting bar. The threads are disposed in reverse directions so as to len then or shorten the connecting bar by simply rotatingnut 60 in the proper direction relative to the bar;

As clearly shown in Fig. 1 a boom 68 is mounted transversely on mast 20 for rotary movement.

This boom 68 comprises a frame 10 made- 0f channel irons spaced apart and reinforced by truss rods 12 and provided with a sheave wheel secured in axial alignment by the cup portion 82 of the bearing plate and the flanged sleeve84 which is secured to the underside of boom 68 and plate II secured to the top end of mast 20. A tubular member I3 is positioned in mast 20 in axial alignment with opening 69 and about the cup shaped portion 82 of the bearing plate 80.

The spindle I6 is tapered at its free 'end'for free a, I

extends through opening 69 formed through movement through opening 69 and into the cup portion 82 of the bearing which is also beveled at I5 to prevent lodgment of the spindle thereon. When the spindle is in the operative position the sleeve 04 is in operative relation with the plate II and tube I3 to support the spindle in axial alignment with the mast. This structure .permits of easy and rapid positioning of the spindle in the mast 20.

A cable 86 secured to the eyelet 88, attached -to the boom, extends around the sheave of a block 90 thence over the adjacent sheave wheel 14, lengthwise of the boom, over the opposite sheave wheel 14, thence downwardly to a posi- 15 tion for the operator to grasp it from the ground.

Themodified form shown in Figs. 8 and 9 provides a special connecting bar I00, whereby the bell crank lever will be secured resiliently against the underside of the platform board regardless of the position of the tine 40 in the upper portion of said board.

The connecting bar I00 comprises a bar I02 provided with a threaded end portion I04, slidably mounted in a tubular section I06. The outer end of tubular section I06 is bifurcated at I08 to receive the inner end of bell crank lever 44 to which it is pivoted by pin H0. A transverse pin H2 is provided adjacent the lower end member I04, to extend into slots H4 formed through the wall of tubular member I06 to limit the relative movements of the parts. Th upper end of bar I02 is pivoted at 49 to the operating bar 50. The upper end of member I06 is preferably flanged at IIB to serve as a bearing for one end of a compression spring I I8. The other end of spring I I8 rests against a nut I20 threaded on member I04. As shown in Fig. 9 the pin II2 rests'against the upper end of slots H4, and the nut is thus adjustable to compress the spring HR to any desired degree. The amount of compression-of spring II4 will be determined by the required force to operate the clamping members to properly engage the floor board 42.

It is quite evident that the platform member 34'may be vertically angled to any desired degree from the horizontal and furthermore that due to the angled relation of the runners 32 the platform member 34 might be moved vertically to obtain the proper vertical position of the mast.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the clamp lever 44 is positioned intermediate arms 38 so that when pressure is applied to the clamping part there will be a tendency to spring the board 40 so that it will have a slight movement to the normal position as the pressure lessens.

Referring now to Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 wherein is shown a modified form of the platform structure, it will be noted that vertical members (20 support transverse members I22 which carry the platform floor boards I24 thereabove. A suitable longitudinal tie bar I26 is shown to maintain the vertical members in proper relative relation.

The derrick, to be used on this platform, is identical with that shown in Fig. 1 and the floor board securing or clamping means engages the outside edge portion of the floor board I24. While the runners 32 are adapted to rest against a vertically adjustable adjusting bar I28. This adjusting bar I28 is detachably secured to the spaced apart vertical platform members I20. The operator may adjust each end of bar I28 vertically to vary the position of the mastas clearly shown in Fig. 11. It will be noted that aaeaavz when bar I28 is in the. lowerposition as. shown in. this figure the mast willbe. inclined from the perpendicular position; however by raising 'lf 'ar I28-to the position shown in dotted line's the 'nra-st will beforced to the verti'cal'position with the clamping means engaging the floor board I24.

While substantiallyany of" the various types of adjustable clamping means might b'eused for securing bar I28 to theuprightmembers I20, however for the purpose of illustration thegba r I28 is shown mounted in U-shaped brackets I30 with a rolled upper portion to form. an eyelet-I32 through which is mounted, one leg I34 ofa U- shaped member I36. The otherleg I38} of mem ber I36 is' adapted to engage the; opposite sideofvertical platform member I20,an d is provided with a tine I40 to engage the. surface of I20 to prevent slippage of the bar supporting means thereon.

With the bar I28adjustably mounted in bracket I30 and the member I36 open at its one side, it is quite apparent that this means of supporting the adjusting bar I28 can be quickly and easily attached to any of the ordinary platform structures having vertically disposed supporting members. While it is intended to maintain bar I28 in substantially a horizontal position for the purpose of exerting substantially a light pressure against each of the rods 32 for maintainin-gthe mast in a vertical position, however it is not essential that this adjusting bar be maintained horizontal since it can be adjusted independently at its opposite ends.

The modified view shown in Fig. 1 provides a platform structure identical with that shown in Figs. and 11 and the adjusting bar I40 is shown pivoted by a pin I42 to one of the vertical uprights I while the other end extends to bear against the opposite upright member I20 and is supported by a cable I44 attached to the free end of I40 and secured at its other end portion to a hook member I46. When it is desired to adjust the derrick so that the mast is in a vertical position, the operator simply loosens the cable I44 from I46, raises or lowers bar I40 as required and then secures the cable again to I46.

Since in each of the various structures shown the mast is spaced apart from the supporting floor board the weight of the boom and material carried thereby will always cause an inward pressure against the adjusting bar and there will be no tendency for the upper end of the mast to move inwardly above the platform.

In the operation of the derrick it is necessary to move it to the various levels as the building progresses, and for this reason the derrick must be released from one platform and moved to the one placed thereabove. This is accomplished by raising operating bar 50 to release lever 44 to per mit free sliding of runners 32 against floor boa rd 42. When the derrick is moved to the upper position it is positioned against the floor board and moved longitudinally thereof so that bars32 rest against the inclined platform member 34 until the mast 20 is in a substantially vertical position. When thus positioned the operating bar 50 is moved downwardly to secure the gripping members in the gripping position. The clamping means is adjustable to properly engage floor boards of any thickness, however it is-evident that the parts of the clamping means are inherently resilient enough to allow some variation in board thickness. As the tine 40 bites deeper into the floor board the lower clamping member principles of the invention will be set forth in the appended cl'aimsi" Having thus described the invention, What is claimedas new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent" is:

1. A portable derrick having a mast, an arm rigidly carried by said mast to engage the top 20 side of a floor board of a platform, a pivoted member adapted to engage the lower side of said floor board, means adjustable to resiliently urge said member against the under side of said floor board, and a bar extending downwardly and inclined toward said mast and carried thereby to bear against a vertically inclined platform member for horizontal adjustment therealong whereby said mast is moved to a predetermined operative position.

2. A portable derrick comprising a mast having an arm rigidly carried by said mast intermediate its ends to engage the top side of a floor board of a platform, a pivoted member carried by said mast adapted to engage the lower side of said floor board, manually operable means adjustable to resiliently urge said member against the under side of said floor board, and a pair of spaced apart, downwardly converging bars rigidly carried by said mast adapted to be adjusted horizontally ofand to bear against a vertically inclined platform member of said platform to adjust said mast to a substantially vertical operative position, and a boom rotatably mounted on top of said mast.

3. A portable derrick comprising a mast, a frame rigidly fixed to and extending, transversely from one side of said mast, a rod extending from each of two spaced apart points of said frame to form runners converging toward and secured to the lower end of said mast, horizontally disposed arms rigidly secured to said frame and having down-turned anchor tines adapted to engage a horizontal platform board, and an adjustable anchor member carried by said frame in offset relation below said arms, and means operable to force said anchor member toward said down-"- turned anchor tines to securely engage a platform member therebetween.

4. A portable derrick comprising a mast, a frame extending transversely from one side of said mast intermediate its ends, a pair of spaced apart runners extending from the outer portion of said frame, downwardly toward the lower end of said mast, anchor members extending outwardly from said frame adapted to rest on top of a supporting platform board, an anchor member adjustably carried by said frame below said supporting platform, and means operable to move said lower anchor member upwardly to clampingly engage said platform as said runners rest against an upwardly inclined platform frame member to maintain said mast in a vertical position.

5. A portable derrick comprising a mast, a frame extending transversely from one side of said mast, intermediate its ends, a pair of spaced apart runners extending from the outer portion of said frame, downwardly toward the lower end of said mast, anchor members extending outwardly from said frame above said runners adapted to rest on top of a supporting platform board, an anchor member adjustably carried by said frame below said supporting platform, and means operable to move said lower anchor member upwardly to clampingly engage said platform as said runners rest against an upwardly inclined platform member to maintain said mast in a vertical position.

6. A portable derrick comprising a mast, a frame extending transversely from one side of said mast intermediate its ends, a pair of spaced apart runners extending from the outer portion of said frame, downwardly toward the lower end of said mast, anchor members extending outwardlyfrom said frame adapted to rest on top of a supporting platform board, an anchor member adjustably carried by said frame below said supporting platform, and means operable to move said lower anchor member upwardly toward said upper anchor member to clampingly engage said platform therebetween as said runners rest against an upwardly inclined platform member to maintain said mast in a vertical position, and adjustable means operable to move said lower anchor member any pre-determined distance to securely clamp said derrick to a platform member, and'to secure it in said clamped position.

NELIGH CLAIR COATES. 

